Now the Lions know just what they are up against

Almost on cue, the Lions lost their first real test last Wednesday when faced with a strong South African A team.

- JEFF PROBYN

A step-up in physicality and speed seemed to take the Lions by surprise as the South Africans rushed to a 17-3 lead and yet it was the Lions, who had played four warm-up matches against a team just coming out of isolation, and should have been prepared for what was the biggest match of the tour so far.

The Boks management took the opportunity to field a number of potential Test players in a match that gave them their first chance of ‘testing’ players against the tourists in a match that didn’t count.

Unfortunately, the early games appear to have given some of the Lions players a false sense of the level of rugby they were likely to face when playing against a South African team.

The ease with which the A players took the game from the Lions, even when reduced to 13 on the pitch must have been a wake-up call not just for the Lions players, but the management team as well.

Warren Gatland may have to rethink his strategy although I am pretty sure he wouldn’t have been fooled by the early results and the ease with which they were achieved.

The Lions have a tough week ahead of them as they prepare for the first Test and even though they have the advantage of having played a number of games, they now know where they have to be if they want to win the series.